Welcome to Techy Nana's Techy Tips. This site is an eclectic mix of discoveries, thoughts, and experiences as I travel in the ever changing world of educational technology. You'll find "Cool Tools" and "Tips & Tricks" as well as sites and movies that aid in the quest for technology integration ~ no matter what the age!
Living and teaching in Glendale, California, this site is for users in my school district and elsewhere in cyberspace.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

JibJab Sendables are lots of fun to make. You get enough credits for a free card when you register (you get 50 and this one was 30). I found this card at jibjab.com and, just for fun, I made it for his (BIG) birthday on May 18th. Amazingly, we went swing dancing last weekend! He won't see this post until his birthday weekend, so ...

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

"Watch the birdie" used to mean look at the photographer who was waving at you to get your attention. Creating a new password meant adding 01, 02, etc., to the only one you ever had, or running through your family and pet names. Giggling was my response when the random lottery number generator first appeared.

Combining those thoughts, today's ever evolving Internet and creators Kevin Sheurs and Andrés Galante provide passwordbird, a random password generator so easy to use. Insert a name + a word + a date that are meaningful to you and this cute little avian creates an 8 or 10 digit password significant only to you! Don't like the first choice? "Click here and I'll make a new one!" offers a different configuration. Still not satisfied? "Click here and tell me different information!" brings even more options. It's a simple flight to http://passwordbird.com/ for your newest password.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

I've been Twitter-ing (see previously post) and received a responding 'tweet', as did all of his followers, from the (infamous?) Podpiper of Education suggesting I look into iShowU for taking screen shots and creating videos on my computer.

The ability to take screen shots or create "how-to" videos is especially helpful for those of us creating handouts for professional development in technology. Checking out the demo on iShowU demonstrates that tools such as this one are not limited to educational use as many online gamers place videos on youtube.com demonstrating their prowess in a particular online game.

So, off I went to iShowU and it is easy to use, compatible with both 10.4 (Tiger) and 10.5 (Leopard); and $20. While it used to be freeware the price is still GREAT when compared to other products. It works seamlessly with Stomp, another product by shinywhitebox.com. Buy them both and it's a package price of $42 rather than $49.95 purchased separately.

No, I don't get a commission nor do any of the other ed tech bloggers who share their finds - darn it! As teachers we just love to share what works for us and maybe for you, too.

Meet Techy Nana (Mrs. Warren)

Me a Teacher Specialist in Technology?

These are the things that I hold dear: God and my faith, time with family, anything technology, getting lost in a mystery novel, WoW, wine tasting in Napa, knitting while traveling, and a cosmo by the fire with my hubby.
My personal belief ~ "A-ha" moments happen no matter what a student's age!